How to Paint Indoor Brick

Learning how to paint indoor brick isn’t so tough, but it’s a surface unlike any other and a few brick-painting tips never hurt.</br></br>Like with many other surfaces, painting brick is 80 percent planning and 20 percent execution. You’ll save yourself endless amounts of time and frustration if you’re properly prepared for your project.</br></br><strong>Step #1: Choose your paint well.</strong></br></br>Before you apply your brush to a single brick, you should know the color, kind and quantity of paint you plan to use.</br></br><em>Kind:</em> You can use a semi-gloss or gloss exterior latex paint or an “elastomeric” paint, sometimes simply called brick paint. Its elastic quality allows it to expand and contract to better fill in brick’s pits and cracks.</br></br><em>Quantity:</em> Overestimate how much you’ll need. It’s hard to tell how much paint your brick will absorb, but rest assured it will be more than you expect. It may need as many as three coats before it’s all said and done.</br></br><em>Color:</em> The absolute last thing you want is to change your mind halfway through this kind of project. Removing paint from brick is … difficult.</br></br>NOTE: If your brick surrounds a fireplace or is anywhere near a heat source, check to make sure your paint is rated to withstand high temps.</br></br><strong>Step #2: Scrub that brick so hard it begs for mercy.</strong></br></br>Use a wire brush and a mixture of water and trisodium phosphate (TSP) to make sure you get every little bit of dirt out of the nooks and crevices, and then let the brick dry for at least 24 hours. This will help the paint adhere.</br></br>NOTE: Soapy water may work for less soiled brick, while a mix of bleach and water will help with mold and mildew.</br></br><strong>Step #3: Prime the pores for paint.</strong></br></br>Before you paint, apply at least one coat of latex primer. This will further aid in paint adhesion as well as mildew prevention.</br></br>NOTE: If you don’t have enough primer for multiple coats, at least focus extra application on areas that show extra wear or exposure to mildew.</br></br><strong>Step 4: Paint your brick.</strong></br></br>A paint sprayer is ideal for painting brick. Its rough, uneven texture can make the work tedious even when using a paint roller.</br></br>NOTE: If you can’t get ahold of a sprayer, definitely spring for a roller. Save your brush for touchups – the brick will tear it up too fast for it to be efficient.</br></br>Follow these steps and you’re sure to achieve brick-painting success, but if you’re not sure where to start you can always consult a local painter through <a title="Porch.com" href="https://porch.com/" target="_blank">Porch.com</a>.